Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High football coaches were recognized Thursday during a community pep rally, prior to the football team claiming its first state championship trophy on Saturday in the Superdome.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Associate Band Director Donny Alexander gets fired up while helping lead the band during a performance inside Bronco Stadium Dec. 10. The band used the pep rally as an opportunity to rehearse for their performance on Dec. 12 in the Superdome.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary twirler Miranda Albarez performs Thursday at a community pep rally inside Bronco Stadium Dec. 10. Albarez and the Zachary High band performed Saturday in the Superdome in New Orleans, during the school's first state championship football game.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High Principal Joe LeBlanc fires up the community at a pep rally in Bronco Stadium Dec. 10, in preparation for the Broncos' state final trip to the Superdome on Saturday, Dec. 12. Zachary defeated John Ehret High School, 46-12, for its first state championship title in football.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- PJ Cannon's likeness, PJ Cannon himself, Coach David Brewerton's likeness, Lindsey Scott Jr. and Scott's likeness, from left, were part of a humorous skit during a community pep rally Thursday, Dec. 10. Cannon shared words of encouragement with his teammates prior to the squad's trip to the Superdome on Dec. 12. The Broncos captured their first state title in football by defeating John Ehret High School, 46-12.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High School Bronco football players gather for a quick photo Thursday during a community pep rally. The team traveled to the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans Saturday, to claim its first state championship trophy.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High football Coach David Brewerton, left, and Principal Joe LeBlanc cheer for several alumni Bronco football players who were recognized during a community pep rally Dec. 10. The players were each asked to offer words of encouragement to the Bronco team that captured the school's first state championship title in football on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Alumni Bronco football players Forrest Towne, left, and Todd Hernandez, wish the Zachary High football team luck during a pep rally on Dec. 10, prior to Saturday's ultimate state final win in the Superdome. School Board member David Dayton, right, emceed the community pep rally.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High's Assistant Principal of Instruction, Erica Henry, left, holds up a likeness of football coach David Brewerton during a funny skit with School Board member David Dayton during a community pep rally Dec. 10.

Community rallies behind Broncos

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High football coaches were recognized Thursday during a community pep rally, prior to the football team claiming its first state championship trophy on Saturday in the Superdome.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Associate Band Director Donny Alexander gets fired up while helping lead the band during a performance inside Bronco Stadium Dec. 10. The band used the pep rally as an opportunity to rehearse for their performance on Dec. 12 in the Superdome.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary twirler Miranda Albarez performs Thursday at a community pep rally inside Bronco Stadium Dec. 10. Albarez and the Zachary High band performed Saturday in the Superdome in New Orleans, during the school's first state championship football game.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High Principal Joe LeBlanc fires up the community at a pep rally in Bronco Stadium Dec. 10, in preparation for the Broncos' state final trip to the Superdome on Saturday, Dec. 12. Zachary defeated John Ehret High School, 46-12, for its first state championship title in football.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Some fierce Bronco Belles perform for the Zachary community during a pep rally on Dec. 10.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Spirits were way up Dec. 10 inside Bronco Stadium thanks to the Zachary High School cheerleaders, who performed during a community pep rally.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- PJ Cannon's likeness, PJ Cannon himself, Coach David Brewerton's likeness, Lindsey Scott Jr. and Scott's likeness, from left, were part of a humorous skit during a community pep rally Thursday, Dec. 10. Cannon shared words of encouragement with his teammates prior to the squad's trip to the Superdome on Dec. 12. The Broncos captured their first state title in football by defeating John Ehret High School, 46-12.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High School Bronco football players gather for a quick photo Thursday during a community pep rally. The team traveled to the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans Saturday, to claim its first state championship trophy.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- American, Louisiana and Zachary High flags wave Dec. 10 at the entrance to Bronco Stadium. The school won its first state championship in football on Saturday.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High football Coach David Brewerton, left, and Principal Joe LeBlanc cheer for several alumni Bronco football players who were recognized during a community pep rally Dec. 10. The players were each asked to offer words of encouragement to the Bronco team that captured the school's first state championship title in football on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Alumni Bronco football players Forrest Towne, left, and Todd Hernandez, wish the Zachary High football team luck during a pep rally on Dec. 10, prior to Saturday's ultimate state final win in the Superdome. School Board member David Dayton, right, emceed the community pep rally.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary's Shyron White displays his dancing skills to the delight of his teammates Thursday during a community pep rally in Bronco Stadium.

Advocate staff photo by STACY GILL -- Zachary High's Assistant Principal of Instruction, Erica Henry, left, holds up a likeness of football coach David Brewerton during a funny skit with School Board member David Dayton during a community pep rally Dec. 10.

A community pep rally was held Dec. 10, celebrating the Zachary High School Broncos and their journey to a state championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Saturday.

The event helped to rid the football players of some nervous energy, it seemed, as it did for the band, cheerleaders, dancers, color guard and twirler, all of whom performed for the Zachary community. And it worked like a charm, as the Broncos captured the state title with a 46-12 victory over John Ehret.

During the rally, the Broncos players heard from alumni members of the team, who offered words of encouragement, well-wishes and luck.

Buddy Baudoin, Todd Hernandez, Laramie Howard, David Hunt, Scott Hunt, Leonard Scott, Thomas Scott and Forrest Towne each took turns at the microphone, sharing their own special message with the players.

“Don’t carry the weight of these teams who didn’t make it to the Dome. We’ll carry you, instead,” said Thomas Scott, a 1999 ZHS graduate.

Fans got excited when 1998 alumnus and former Bronco player, Leonard Scott, who went on to play for the University of Tennessee, told the team: “Winning a state championship is very special. Just ball till you fall.”

“Bring a title back to Zachary,” encouraged 19th Judicial District Court Judge Todd Hernandez, representing the 1982-83 Bronco season.

Others told the young players to do their best, have fun and remember that the community has their backs, win or lose.

Coach David Brewerton introduced each member of Broncos’ coaching staff, saying the season would not have been possible without their expertise and experience.

Captains from the team spoke, sharing their excitement about the game ahead of them with teammates.

Principal Joe LeBlanc said it had been 25 years since he’d been to the Superdome — the last time as an offensive line coach.

“We represent you, the Zachary community, and I challenge this team to make you, the community, proud,” said LeBlanc.

Humourous skits were performed by school administrators and School Board member David Dayton, who was the pep rally’s emcee.

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